Plessey merges monolithic microLEDs into head-up display for AR and VR head up display

Jan 18, 2018: Plessey Semiconductors has successfully demonstrated that it can integrate its monolithic microLED technology into a head-up displays (HUD) for new AR and VR applications.

Plessey has proved that it is possible to enable its partners to move into production of a monolithic display based on microLEDs using the company’s proprietary GaN-on-Silicon approach. Monolithic microLEDs are the only viable solution to design products to make them more compact without restricting the overall experience for AR and VR applications and in HUDs, yet it is more power efficient and bright.

The demonstrator, which was produced in collaboration with Artemis Optical, combines Plessey’s monolithic display, based on an array of microLEDs integrated alongside an active matrix backplane, with the patented film technology and a single lens arrangement from Artemis. The technologies when combined removes ambient light in the wavelength matching the microLED display output, resulting in a HUD that delivers very high display brightness with low power consumption, in a format that is considerably smaller than existing HUD designs.

Keith Strickland, CTO at Plessey, stated: “Monolithic microLED technology is the only viable solution that can enable products that are not only compact enough to be worn without restricting the overall experience for AR and VR applications and in HUDs, but also provide the size, weight, power and luminance needed.”

Plessey’s was recently announced as ‘Company of the Year’ at the Elektra Awards 2017, and was awarded for its achievements and innovation in the development LEDs using it’s GaN-on-Silicon technology.